Anco Media Group Acquires Las Vegas’ Vibe & Other Former Highway Stations
The former "Highway Stations" covering Las Vegas and the I-15 and I-40 corridors in California's High Desert are being acquired
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Las Vegas The Vibe has joined The Revolution: ANCO acquires Heftel’s Highway Radio Stations.
- Thread starter only1moore
- Start date
radioinsight.com
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
I hope they have better luck than Heftel has had in recent times. The advantage of the "Highway Stations" was originally the lack of other receivable FMs through that part of I-15, and these days it's more likely that drivers have a stream tuned in.
They may want to but how strong is the cell signal in the middle of the desert? Between towns. I've never gone past Primm from Vegas
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
Given that the last time I drove that stretch of I-15, there were no such things as cell phones, I have no frame of reference, so I'll presume your experience is typical for anyone in that area.
Doesn't stop anyone from playing MP3s off of their own phones, though.
For all I know, the stations are still marketed to advertisers as the only thing one can listen to in the car through the pass. As long as they can get revenue ... 🥳
Wireless companies tend to put a lot of towers along interstate highways, particularly ones with heavy traffic.
As an example, AT&T's wireless coverage map shows I-15 having adequate 5G and 4G LTE coverage the entire route between LA and Las Vegas, adequate for streaming audio. On smaller, remote roads, that may or may not be the case.
People still do that? I can't remember the last time I had a single music track on my phone
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
Just because you don't doesn't mean the entire rest of the world follows your lead.
I am simply stating probable alternatives to terrestrial radio that people might use instead of terrestrial radio formats that may not be appealing to them. It's not like there is a lot of competition on FM on that stretch of I-15.
For sure. I think it's the age. I remember the old days and we've moved on and my mind doesn't want to.
In any case, I've taken a quick listen. I can certainly deal with The Revolution and it will certainly be welcome. More so since 87.7 became K-Love.
I’d hope they can end up doing something with 98.9 (Laughlin/Bullhead rimshot). It has been mostly off the air for the past year and change. They had it broadcasting last month with just dead air. Good signal all the way past Kingman on a car radio…
Personally, I’d much rather see that as part of the dance format. But I’m assuming the reason why the station has been dark recently is probably difficulty getting programming to the transmitter site.
Personally, I’d much rather see that as part of the dance format. But I’m assuming the reason why the station has been dark recently is probably difficulty getting programming to the transmitter site.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
There is no rigid time frame, but the FCC requires an extension of consummation to be filed if that does not take place within 90 days of approval. The vast majority do take place within that time frame.
No sign of a rebrand on air yet. Audio and RDS still say Vibe
Coverage is fine all along I-15. Same along I-40 going east from Barstow towards Needles and AZ. And of course no problems south of Barstow. Even when I take CA 127, a lightly travelled two lane highway north from Baker to Shoshone and Pahrump there's only a couple of dead spots where a stream drops out (Verizon). Pretty much negates the business model for Highway Radio except for their rimshot Vegas booster.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
Yeah, what was an innovative idea -- four decades ago -- is now rendered moot by technology. They no longer have a captive audience constrained by the limitations of FM. (And haven't for some time now, honestly.)
If this sale hadn't happened, I expect Heftel would be starting to look at dismantling the whole thing and selling it off piecemeal to various someones wanting to program them as locals.
They have until 4/29 to consummate the sale or either file for an extension or non-consummation of the sale.
It's still a little patchy but better than KJUL. The Vegas booster is pretty low power
Yea I had a weak signal on 99.7 in parts of Henderson right under Black Mountain next to the Highway, likely due to the terrain blocking the Line of Sight just a few miles away .. signal also gets weak at times in the NW Valley near Centennial / Durango / Santa Fe Station.
Generally driving around it's not too bad in Silverado Ranch, Eastern/Pecos. Actually 101.5 is a lot worse on parts of Eastern. I suspect local interference as the ham radio was getting up to S9 of noise in places
Spending most of my time in Northwest Valley I think I heard some multipath interference on 105.7 which doesn't put out much signal NW from the Strat. 101.5 did at times sound better in Parts of Henderson than it did closer to the Strip and NW. Most of the Strat stations fade out quickly or gone after Railroad Pass, and into Boulder City. 105.7 sounded Great Again after going by the Hoover Dam, tho KOAS is difficult to receive in Kingman and in Golden Valley AZ.
Highway Vibe on 98.9 was a nice choice in Laughlin and up to about Kingman.